English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Cinders

noun

Small pieces of partly burned coal or wood that remain after a fire has died down.

Cindi

name

A diminutive of the female given name Cynthia, a variant spelling of Cindy.

Cindy

name

A diminutive of the female given names Cynthia or Lucinda, also used as a formal given name.

cinema

noun

A building where films are shown to the public.

cinematic

adj

Relating to films, or having the visual style and quality of a professionally made movie.

cinematographer

noun

A person responsible for the camera work and visual look of a film, including lighting and framing shots.

cinematography

noun

The art and technique of shooting and lighting scenes for film or video.

cinnamon

noun

A spice made from the dried, curled bark of a tropical evergreen tree, sold as sticks or ground into powder.

cipher

noun

A system for turning readable text into a secret, scrambled form; more loosely, a secret code.

Cipriano

name

A Spanish surname and male given name.

circa

prep

Used before a date to mean "approximately" or "around", when the exact date isn't known.

Circe

name

In Greek mythology, an enchantress who turned Odysseus's men into pigs; also used to describe a seductive or bewitching woman.

circle

noun

A perfectly round, flat shape where every point on the edge is the same distance from the centre.

circled

adj

Marked with a ring drawn around it.

circling

noun

The act of moving repeatedly in a curved path around something.

circuit

noun

A closed path that electric current can flow around, usually containing components like wires, switches, and resistors.

circuitry

noun

The network of electrical circuits inside a device, or the design of such a system.

circular

adj

Shaped like or relating to a circle.

circulate

verb

To move continuously through a system, or to travel around and mix with a group of people.

circulated

adj

Passed around or spread so it reaches many people or places.

circulating

adj

Moving continuously through a system, or actively spreading among people.

circulation

noun

The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body.

circulatory

adj

Relating to the circulation of blood through the heart and vessels.

circumcised

adj

Having had the foreskin surgically removed, referring to a man or male infant.

circumcision

noun

The surgical removal of the foreskin, often performed on infant boys for religious, cultural, or medical reasons.

circumference

noun

The distance all the way around the edge of a circle or round object.

circumstance

noun

A fact or condition connected to an event, which affects how it happens or is understood.

circumstantial

adj

Based on indirect evidence that suggests something without directly proving it.

circumvent

verb

To find a way around an obstacle, rule, or difficulty rather than dealing with it directly.

circus

noun

A travelling show featuring acrobats, clowns, and trained animals, traditionally performed in a large tent.

cirque

noun

A bowl-shaped hollow carved into a mountainside by glacial erosion, usually at the head of a valley.

cirrhosis

noun

A serious, long-term liver disease in which healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue, often caused by alcohol abuse, hepatitis, or other damage.

cis

adj

Cisgender; describing someone whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

cisco

noun

Any of several freshwater fish species found in cold North American lakes, related to whitefish.

cissy

noun

A cisgender person; someone who is not transgender.

cistern

noun

A tank or reservoir used to store water, especially rainwater, for later use.

citadel

noun

A fortress, often built on high ground, that protects or overlooks a city.

citation

noun

A reference to a source of information, given to credit where it came from, especially in academic writing.

cite

verb

To quote or refer to a source as evidence or support for a statement.

cited

adj

Referred to or quoted as a source.

citing

noun

The act of quoting or referring to a source.

citizen

noun

A legally recognised member of a country, with rights such as voting and a passport, and duties such as paying taxes.

citizenship

noun

The legal status of being a citizen of a particular country, along with its associated rights and duties.

citrus

noun

Any tree or fruit of the group that includes oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.

city

noun

A large, important settlement, generally bigger than a town and often with its own local government.

citywide

adj

Affecting or covering an entire city.

Ciudad

name

The Spanish word for "city," used as part of many place names, and formerly the name of a barangay in Cebu City, Philippines.

civic

adj

Relating to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil in nature.

civics

noun

The school subject or study of citizenship — how government works and what it means to take part in a community.

civil

adj

Relating to ordinary citizens and government, as opposed to the military or religion.

civilian

noun

A person who is not a member of the armed forces, police, or similar organisation.

civilisation

noun

British spelling of civilization — an organised, developed society or culture.

civilised

adj

British spelling of civilized — having a developed, orderly society, or simply behaving in a decent, reasonable way.

civility

noun

Polite, courteous behaviour, especially toward people you disagree with.

civilization

noun

A large, organised society with its own culture, institutions, and level of development, often spanning a nation or region.

civilized

adj

Having a well-developed society, culture, and institutions.

civvies

noun

Ordinary, non-military clothing, especially as worn by someone who is normally in uniform.

Cl

noun

Abbreviation for centilitre, a metric unit of volume equal to one hundredth of a litre.

clack

noun

A short, sharp sound made by two hard objects knocking together, between a click and a clunk.

clacking

noun

A repeated clack-like sound.

Clacks

name

An informal short form of Clackmannanshire, a council area in Scotland, often used in postal addresses.

clad

adj

Dressed or covered in something, especially clothing or a protective layer.

claes

noun

A Scots dialect word for clothes.

claim

verb

To state that something is true, often without having proved it yet.

claiming

noun

The act of making a claim.

Clair

name

A given name of French origin, a less common spelling of Claire, used for both males and females.

claire

noun

A small enclosed pond used to gather and freshen oysters before sale.

clairvoyant

adj

Supposedly able to perceive things beyond the normal senses, such as future events or hidden information.

clam

noun

An edible shellfish with two hinged shells, found buried in sand or mud.

clammy

adj

Unpleasantly cold and damp to the touch, especially skin.

clamor

noun

A loud outcry or noisy demand, often from a crowd.

clamoring

noun

The act or sound of loudly demanding something.

clamour

noun

British spelling of clamor — a loud outcry or noisy demand.

clamouring

noun

British spelling of clamoring — the act or sound of loudly demanding something.

clamp

noun

A device used to hold or squeeze objects tightly together.

clamped

adj

Held or fastened tightly, as if by a clamp.

clamping

noun

The act of fastening something with a clamp, or of immobilising a vehicle with a wheel clamp.

clan

noun

A large group of related families claiming descent from a common ancestor.

clancy

noun

An overflow or spillage, especially of liquid.

clandestine

adj

Kept secret, especially because the activity is improper or illicit.

clang

verb

To make (or produce) a loud, ringing metallic sound.

clanging

noun

A repeated loud, ringing metallic noise.

clank

noun

A loud, dull sound of metal striking metal.

clanking

noun

A repeated dull, metallic clank sound.

Clanton

name

An English surname, also the name of a city in Alabama, the county seat of Chilton County.

clap

verb

To strike the palms of the hands together to make a sharp sound, especially to applaud.

clapped

adj

Very ugly or unattractive (slang).

clapper

noun

The part inside a bell that swings and strikes it to make it ring.

clapping

noun

The act of striking your hands together to applaud or make a rhythm.

Clapton

name

An English habitational surname, also the name of several places in England, including a district of Hackney, London.

claptrap

noun

Talk or writing that sounds impressive but is actually empty or nonsensical.

Clara

name

A female given name of Latin origin, meaning "bright" or "clear."

Clare

noun

A nun belonging to the Poor Clares, a Franciscan religious order for women.

Claremont

name

A place name used for numerous towns, cities, and suburbs across the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and elsewhere.

clarence

noun

A light, closed four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a glass front, popular in the 19th century.

claret

noun

A dry red wine from the Bordeaux region of France, or a similar style made elsewhere.

Clarice

name

A female given name of French origin, related to Clarissa.

Claridge

name

An English surname, possibly derived from the given name Clarice or from a place in Sussex.

clarification

noun

The act of making something clearer or easier to understand.

clarified

adj

Made clear, especially a liquid with impurities strained or settled out.

clarify

verb

To make an idea, statement, or situation easier to understand.

clarifying

adj

Making something clearer or easier to understand.

clarinet

noun

A single-reed woodwind instrument with a smooth, rich tone that varies across its low, middle, and high registers.

clarion

noun

A medieval brass instrument with a narrow tube and a high, piercing sound, once used to signal in battle.

Clarissa

noun

A nun of the Poor Clares order (a less common synonym for "Poor Clare").

Clarisse

noun

A nun of the Poor Clares order, especially one following Saint Clare's original rule.

clarity

noun

The quality of being clear and easy to understand, see, or hear.

Clark

name

An English and Scottish surname originally denoting an occupation as a scribe or cleric, also used as a male given name.

Clarkson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Clark," also the name of several towns and suburbs.

claro

noun

A cigar with a light tan or yellowish wrapper leaf.

clary

noun

Clary sage, a herb (Salvia sclarea) used in cooking, herbal medicine, and perfumery.

clash

noun

A loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together.

clashing

adj

Not going well together; conflicting or mismatched, especially in appearance or opinion.

clasp

noun

A fastener with interlocking parts used to hold something closed, like a necklace or bag.

class

noun

A group of people or things sharing common features; a category.

classic

adj

Widely recognised as excellent and enduring; a standard example of its kind.

classical

adj

Relating to Western art music of the 18th and 19th centuries, or to orchestral music generally.

classically

adv

In a traditional or classical style; according to established, time-honoured methods.

classics

noun

The academic study of ancient Greek and Latin language, literature, and history.

classification

noun

The act or system of sorting things into groups based on shared characteristics.

classified

adj

Officially marked as secret and restricted from public disclosure by a government.

classifieds

noun

The section of a newspaper, magazine, or website listing small paid advertisements.

classify

verb

To sort into groups or categories based on shared traits.

classmate

noun

A fellow student in the same class or year at school.

classroom

noun

A room, usually in a school, where lessons take place.

classy

adj

Elegant, stylish, or showing good taste.

clatter

verb

To make a rapid series of short, sharp banging or rattling sounds.

clattering

noun

A series of rattling, banging sounds.

Claud

name

A male given name and surname of Latin origin, a variant of Claude.

Claude

name

A male given name of Latin origin, from the Roman family name Claudius.

Claudia

name

A female given name of Latin origin, the feminine form of Claudius.

Claudine

name

A female given name of French origin, also used as a surname.

Claudius

name

A male given name of Latin origin, notably borne by the Roman emperor Claudius.

clause

noun

A group of words with its own subject and verb, forming part of a sentence (or occasionally standing as one).

Clausen

name

A Danish surname.

claustrophobia

noun

An intense, irrational fear of small or enclosed spaces.

claustrophobic

adj

Suffering from, or prone to, an intense fear of enclosed spaces.

clave

noun

A repeating rhythmic pattern used in Latin music, most famously the two-bar 3-2 son clave.

clavicle

noun

The collarbone: the long, slender bone connecting the shoulder blade to the breastbone.

Clavin

name

An Irish surname, an anglicized form of Mac Fhláimhín, meaning "son of Flaithimhín."

claw

noun

A sharp, curved nail on the toe of an animal, bird, or reptile.

clawed

adj

Having claws.

clawing

noun

The act of scratching or tearing with claws.

clay

noun

A fine-grained, sticky earth that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when fired or dried — used for pottery, bricks, and sculpture.

Claybourne

name

A surname.

Claymore

name

A suburb of Sydney, Australia, and the name of an American anti-personnel mine, itself named after the Scottish claymore sword.

Clea

name

A female given name.

clean

adj

Free of dirt, stains, or other unwanted matter.

cleaned

adj

Made clean; having had dirt or mess removed.

cleaner

noun

A person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or other spaces.